Insights on designing a sustainable 6G system as a multi-functional platform that delivers services beyond communication

6G to Build a Sustainable Future provides a summary of the research conducted in the European 6G Flagship project Hexa-X-II towards the sixth generation (6G) mobile networks, with additional input from other smart networks and services joint undertaking (SNS-JU) projects, such as 6G-DISAC, 6G-MUSICAL, 6G-NTN, 6G-SHINE, Deterministic 6G, RIGOROUS, ROBUST-6G, TERRAMETA and TERA6G. The book explores the motivation, values, and needs of 6G, with a strong emphasis on environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

To address these needs, the 6G system will be designed as a platform, providing services including and beyond communication; the book provides an end-to-end (E2E) blueprint of this system. The book also outlines the potential paths from the project results towards standardization and further towards introduction to the markets.

Topics discussed include:

• Design principles, requirements, value, validation and blueprints for inclusive, trustworthy, and environmentally sustainable 6G platforms
• 6G transceiver and radio design, covering architecture and deployment, radio link modeling, transmission schemes, and signal processing hardware
• 6G intelligence through AI-native architecture, smart network management, and intent-based management
• Architectural enablers including flexible networks, dependable networking, beyond communication services architecture, and radio protocols
• E2E security concepts, covering security enablers
• All this from Hexa-X-II as well as other SNS-JU projects

6G to Build a Sustainable Future is an essential, up-to-date reference for wireless researchers, network planners, technology analysts, technology marketers, R&D engineers, application developers, spectrum regulators, and students.

Mikko A. Uusitalo, Nokia Bell Labs Finland Site Lead, Head of Research Department, Nokia, Finland. Mikko was leading the European 6G Flagship project Hexa-X-II.

Patrik Rugeland, Master Researcher, Ericsson Research, Sweden. Patrik was the Technical Manager for Hexa-X-II.

Mauro Boldi, Project Manager, TIM, Italy. Mauro was the leader of dissemination and standardization activities for Hexa-X-II.

Ahmad Nimr, Research Group Lead, TU-Dresden, Germany. Ahmad was leading the Radio Evolution and Innovation work package in Hexa-X-II.